With finals over, Ducks set to kick off bowl practices this afternoon

The Oregon football team returns to practice today, upon the conclusion of final exams at the university and for the first time since finishing the regular season 11-1.

The Ducks did strength and conditioning the last two weeks while preparing for and then taking final exams, but haven’t formally practiced since winning at Oregon State, 48-24, on Nov. 24. They’re set to face Kansas State in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 3 in Glendale, Ariz.

Practices are scheduled today through Monday, followed by a three-day break before the Ducks hold another set of Friday-through-Monday workouts. They conclude workouts in Eugene on Dec. 19-21, break for the holidays and then report to Phoenix on Dec. 26.

The Ducks will hold on-site practice at Pinnacle High School in Phoenix — as they did in 2010 — beginning on Dec. 27. Two practices will include brief windows open to the media; one of those has been set for Jan. 1.